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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=DE-CH>Hello
everybody,</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
lang=DE-CH> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">I'm glad to telll you about the OST
with handicapped people I've recently done with a collegue Marianne Gerber. A
successful experience !</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">On Saturday, November 11<SUP>th</SUP> 2006, 24
persons from the French and the German speaking part of Switzerland representing
17 different handicaps met in an OST meeting in Bern from am 09.30 to pm. 05.00.
Among them there were one deaf person, 3 visual handicaped, and 5 persons with
heavy handicaps in an electric wheelchair. The others had other handicaps,
illness or brain injuries.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">Some of the 24 active participants were
assisted by 8 persons : translation into sign language for the deaf person,
accompanying visual handicapped persons, additional help for handwriting, eating
and drinking during brakes for lunch and coffee, going to toilet, and so on. We
were two facilitators, Catherine French speaking and Marianne German speaking.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">The Meeting design was the
following:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 54.0pt"><SPAN
lang=EN-GB style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">09.30 am<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Welcome coffee<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 54.0pt"><SPAN
lang=EN-GB style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">10.00 am<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Introduction in 2 languages, agenda and marketplace<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 54.0pt"><SPAN
lang=EN-GB style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">11.45 am <SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>1<SUP>st</SUP> workshop session
until 01.00 pm<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 54.0pt"><SPAN
lang=EN-GB style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Coffee available between 11.15 and 11.45<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 54.0pt"><SPAN
lang=EN-GB style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">02.30 pm<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>2<SUP>nd</SUP> workshop session
until 03.45 pm<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 54.0pt"><SPAN
lang=EN-GB style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Lunch buffet from 12.30 - 02.30 pm<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 54.0pt"><SPAN
lang=EN-GB style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">04.00 pm<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Closing circle<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 54.0pt"><SPAN
lang=EN-GB style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">05.00 pm<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>End<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">The design may appear to be relatively short.
We started only at 10.00 am because participants were coming from different part
of Switzerland. We had only two sessions because they get easily tired and for
some of them, the way back home was long.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">After a French- and German introduction, the
collection of subjects started. The market place was very nice, not that much
chaotic. There was a lot of respect and patience among the
participants.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">11 subjects were proposed and 9 workshops took
place.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">The theme was:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">Do we want a quota for handicapped people on
the labour market?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; TEXT-INDENT: -18pt; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><SPAN
lang=EN-GB style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">-<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN lang=EN-GB style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">Is it the
instrument we wish to have?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; TEXT-INDENT: -18pt; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><SPAN
lang=EN-GB style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">-<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN lang=EN-GB style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">Shall the
Organization AGILE (the sponsor of the OST-meeting) commit itself for the theme
on the political field?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">Amazingly a women, who had to leave earlier,
managed to shorten the break lunch and then motivated the group to finish
earlier. The 2<SUP>nd</SUP> workshop session started at 02.00 pm. The closing
circle at 03.15 pm. The meeting was over at 03.45 pm<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">In the closing circle people told that the main
preoccupations of the participants, regarding the theme, were relatively the
same. It seems that 4 main preoccupations were discussed in the
groups.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">The whole OST meeting went on very smoothly.
However the preparation was much more difficult, as we didn’t know how many
people would come and what their handicap would be. On the meeting day, there
were finally no blind participants. This was one of our big worry. (How would
they react to the absence of table, etc.?) The registered person with hardness
of hearing did not come. For hard of hearing participants we would have needed a
magnetic loop as assistance materiel. However the participant with visual
handicap said that the assistance was very good. That’s certainly the main point
to guarantee the success of such an event. One of our big sorrow was also the
room, which was already booked, when the sponsor decided to organize an OST.
This one was not really adequate. However, as not all expected participants were
present, things worked out pretty well. (who ever comes is the right person
!)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">Now we look forward to the debrief meeting on
November 20, 2006. The follow up of this OST meeting will be very important for
the sponsor, who will have to decide, how to go on with the Theme as it is
discussed on the political stage, often without listening the affected
people.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">Some of the statements in the closing
circle:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">“the introduction was a bit
long”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">“yes, it may have been long, but it helped me
to overcome my scruple”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">“we could all discuss on a same level, the
handicaps were no issues – the assistance was extraordinary well
done”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">“the fact that every body participated is
remarkable”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">For us, as facilitators, this OST meeting is a
confirmation, that as soon as you have the right assistance (we mean human and
technical assistance) handicaps do not bother or hinder the work to do. On our
meeting, there were human beings at work, not handicapped people. Catherine made
this same conclusion in a program, in which she and her colleagues adapted the
instrument “Balance of Competence in groups”.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">So what seemed impossible, appears to be
possible with the adequate assistance. We hope that the participants will talk
about OST in their associations in order to work with more efficiency. The
members of their associations have one same handicap. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">It remains true, that it will still be easier
to organize an OST meeting when we have to organize assistance for only one
handicap and not many different ones. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">Catherine Corbaz and Marianne
Gerber<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">Bern, November 12,
2006<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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